The BNSF line has 211 train cars. 5% of the train cars are experiencing chronic air conditioning problems and most of the cars those are over 30 years old.

The average car carries about 140 passengers and has two air conditioners, one on each side. If one of those is broken, Metra still keeps the car in service, otherwise passengers onboard will be forced to make their way onto other already-crowded cars.

Because of the age of those cars, it can take 10 days to replace the air conditioning system. Metra wants passengers to know a shortage of trained electricians adds to the blockage.

“We are moving cars around. We are doing things in the middle of the night to alleviate the problem. Right now, we are trying to get over the hump,” Derwinski said.

Metra says they are working on the problem, but says it may be weeks until it is resolved.